[time-nuts] Subject: Be aware of test equipment seller
Charles P. Steinmetz
charles_steinmetz at lavabit.com
Tue Sep 11 03:00:16 UTC 2012
Greg wrote:
>Shortly after I started bidding on eBay back in the 90's, I quickly
>learned that many of the sellers are not knowledgeable equipment shippers.
Amen. And that is the most polite and charitable description possible.
>I was surprised how the sellers would work hard to meet those requirements.
Interesting. I have often sent basic packing
recommendations/requests, which have almost always been ignored.
>In a few instances where items weighed upwards of 100 lbs, I would
>obtain dimensions of the item(s) being sent, create a cardboard
>mockup of approximately the size and profile of the item, have my
>own container foamed-in-place * * * and send that container to
>the seller to use to ship the item to me.
Great idea, but it must dramatically raise your cost of
transport. With the reported scarcity/prices of T&M equipment in
Europe that may be justified, but for domestic sales here in the
States it could be hard to justify.
>Now, after over 700 purchases on eBay, I can safely say that I have
>only received less than ten or so items that contained some form of damage.
We have had more than double that many damaged items on fewer than
20% of the purchases. There was a time several years ago when eBay
and paypal were useless at helping with not-as-described and
damaged-in-shipment claims. Thankfully, in the last few years they
seem to have gotten more involved.
>Never underestimate the transportation companies and their
>propensity to damage equipment.
We have seen very little damage -- in fact, almost none -- that was
the shipper's fault. I know it happens, but from our experience
nowhere near as often as reports would indicate. I think this means
that most recipients don't know any more about packing than the
sellers, and are mistakenly blaming the carriers for the sellers' failings.
Best regards,
Charles
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